If learning online is new to you, have no fear: virtual training programs are the go-to for today’s advancing professionals. When considering online learning, you’ll want to weigh all the pros and cons to decide if it’s the right choice for you. Virtual classes have gained in popularity thanks to the flexibility they provide without sacrificing on the quality of curriculum. This article will walk you through the different types of online learning, the advantages and disadvantages, and how learning Revit online can be the right choice for you.
What is Revit?
Revit is a commercial building information modeling (BIM) software by the company Autodesk. It’s generally used by architects, structural engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers, designers, and contractors. Autodesk Revit allows users to create, edit, and review 3D models in exceptional detail. Revit is often compared to AutoCAD, Autodesk’s CAD software that is also used in the AEC industry. However, while most AEC professionals use Revit and AutoCAD at the same time, these two are quite different. Revit was originally called Charles River Software and was founded in Newton, Massachusetts, on October 31, 1997, by Leoind Razi and Irwin Jungreis.
Why Learn Revit?
Revit training can help you do many things. You can create detailed 3D models of buildings, including walls, floors, roofs, stairs, and other elements, and can manipulate and modify them parametrically. You can also create detailed and coordinated models that generate 2D drawings like floor plans, elevations, and sections, enabling efficient project documentation and collaboration across different disciplines (like structural, mechanical, and electrical) within the AEC industry. For example,you can create, model, and document mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that will be presented in the context of a full BIM project that includes architectural and structural components. This way, your documentation will be thorough and accurate.
Learn Revit
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Authorized Autodesk training center
Revit training can also help you generate high-quality 3D renderings and virtual tours to effectively communicate design concepts to clients and stakeholders. The software helps connect you with all key partners in a project, allowing you to create easy to understand blueprints and renderings that can improve visibility, trust, and communication between you and those you work with.
Finally, Revit training can help you create detailed schedules of building components (doors, windows, finishes) with quantities and other relevant information for project estimating and procurement. For example, Revit helps MEP engineers create fabrication-ready models so they can immediately be aware of the materials and equipment needed for the production process. This improves the workflow by reducing the communication chain and helps ensure your projects are completed on time and within scope and budget.
Why Learn Revit Online?
There are many reasons to choose an online professional training program. The most commonly cited reason is for the flexibility; virtual classes allow you to learn from wherever you choose. This means that if you live in an area with limited options, don’t want to deal with traffic, constantly travel the world, or simply prefer to learn from the comfort of your home, you can still attend a quality training course.
Live online classes still provide you with the opportunity to ask questions and receive live feedback from an expert instructor. On-demand and self-directed classes offer even more flexibility, allowing you to decide where and when you’ll learn. These classes have no set class times (some don’t even have assignment due dates), allowing you to take as much time as you need to master challenging topics or skills. If you learn at a slower pace, a self-directed or on-demand online course may be right for you.
How Hard is it to Learn Revit?
Generally speaking, the Revit learning process should be straightforward and very doable if it’s approached in phases. Students are encouraged to begin working with Revit by exploring its layout and core tools. Those who come from a tech-heavy background or who have experience working with other BIM tools like Blender will find this portion of the process easier than it is for others.
Once you’re familiar with the Revit layout and core features, you can try your hand at small projects. It takes most learners several months (or longer) before they can attempt to complete large projects with this tool. Revit was designed to assist with large, complex building projects. This means that the software has a steeper learning curve for most learners than other modeling software.
What are the most challenging parts of learning Revit?
One of the most common challenges is making the leap from traditional drafting tools and methods into working with 3D parameters. When using 3D models, even one minute change to one detail can significantly affect the entire design. Beginners may struggle to do so while manipulating model elements at the same time. One of the most effective ways to tackle the challenges of learning Revit is to enroll in a live course that provides hands-on instruction with an expert instructor in a small class setting.
Different Kinds of Online Training
There are five main ways to learn Revit virtually: live online courses, self-directed training, on-demand classes, and free resources. Each one has been outlined below so that you can consider the pros and cons.
Live Online Classes
Live virtual courses are considered the middle ground between on-demand and in-person classes. You’ll attend scheduled class times from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose) to learn from an expert instructor. Live online classes offer instant feedback from your teacher and interactions with other students, creating the opportunity for a deeper understanding of the coursework. These classes are ideal for students that thrive in a structured learning environment but perhaps don’t live near any in-person offerings. Or, if you simply prefer online learning, then a live virtual class could be for you.
Self-Directed Training
Self-directed courses are a flexible online option for those with complicated schedules. You can attend from anywhere you choose and complete each lesson on your own time, so you can speed through easy sections and spend more time on challenging ones. But, like a live online class, you’ll still have additional support and guidance from instructors or mentors, albeit with slightly more of a delay.
On-Demand Classes
On-demand classes offer the most flexibility of any class option but don’t win any awards for speed. They do have quite a few benefits for busy professionals, though. Not only can you learn from wherever you want, you can also learn whenever you want. There are no due dates or scheduled class times, so you can take your time on challenging topics or skip over ones you’ve already mastered.
These classes are ideal for learners with complicated schedules who need to squeeze their studying in around their work and other obligations. You’ll need to be an independent and self-motivated student to succeed in an on-demand class.
Free Resources
While not the best method for full mastery, free resources can be a great way to dip your toes into the world of Revit. If you’re unsure about if Revit is for you, free resources can be a great way to explore the basic concepts and tools of Revit before you commit to a time-consuming and costly training course. Additionally, you can use free resources as a supplement to your training course. Stuck on a specific topic? Free resources found on YouTube, Reddit, or blogs may provide helpful insight from professionals who have been in your shoes before. It’s important to note that free resources lack the accountability of a professional training course, so you’ll need to be very motivated and responsible if you choose to use free resources as your sole training source.
Can I Learn Revit Free Online?
You could take advantage of free resources like Noble Desktop’s YouTube channel, making the most of the insights, tools, and short tutorials made available by industry experts. Coursera also boasts hundreds of various training sessions and videos lasting from just a few minutes to a few days. While free resources are financially helpful, this method can take the most time. You’ll be responsible for sourcing all your learning materials and ensuring that you’ve covered all the important subjects of Revit, and this process can take a substantial amount of time. Additionally, like on-demand courses, it’s easy to lose motivation and fall behind with free resources.
What are the Advantages and Limitations of Online Training?
As previously mentioned, online learning has a lot of advantages. Gone are the days of sitting in traffic or paying for parking in order to attend a course. If you live in a more rural area, online classes provide you with training options that aren’t dependent on living in a densely populated metropolitan area. And for those who simply prefer to learn alone, online classes offer the solitude and quiet that these students desire.
It’s important to note that online learning also has disadvantages. If you rely on the accountability of live online or in-person class schedules, you may struggle to stay focused in a self-directed or on-demand course. Live online classes provide you with set class times and (usually) due dates for assignments, but self-direct and on-demand courses typically don’t require these. (Some courses may come with an expiration date, giving you six months to complete, but this is rare for self-direct and on-demand.) These classes also lack the ability to ask questions and receive feedback in real time, meaning that any challenges you encounter you will have to either solve on your own or wait for your instructor’s response via email or direct message at a later time. Finally, if you value a collaborative learning environment, online courses may not be the best fit for you. These classes can have limited to no contact with your fellow students, making any sort of learning collaboration your responsibility through chats and forums you may find online.
When it comes to online classes, these can vary widely in cost, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the length and depth of the program. Financial assistance is sometimes available for these courses, and you can typically set up a payment plan to help make these courses more accessible, but you’ll want to seriously consider cost when making your decision. Finally, it’s very easy to lose momentum or fall behind in a self-directed or on-demand class since you won’t have any outside accountability, so these courses tend to take longer than a structured live course.
What Will I Learn in an Online Revit Class?
One of the primary functions of Revit is its ability to create detailed architectural elements such as walls, floors, roofs, and doors. Through a combination of sketching and parametric modelling, architects can design multifaceted building components with precision and accuracy. Beyond this primary function, you’ll also learn a variety of other skills which are covered below:
- Navigation: Moving around within the model, zooming, panning, and rotating to view different perspectives.
- View Management: Switching between different views (plan, section, elevation) and adjusting visibility to focus on specific design aspects.
- Parametric Design: Using families to create reusable components with adjustable parameters for customization.
- Level Management: Defining project levels and placing elements accurately within the model.
- Sketching: Drawing precise lines and shapes to create building elements.
- Selection Tools: Efficiently selecting elements for modification.
- Construction Documentation: Generating detailed 2D drawings like floor plans, elevations, sections, and schedules directly from the 3D model.
- Collaboration Features: Working with other team members on a shared BIM model using cloud-based platforms.
- Analytical Modeling: Creating simplified models for structural analysis
- Advanced Modeling Techniques: Creating complex geometries, using adaptive components, and site design features.
- Rendering and Visualization: Producing high-quality renderings to present design concepts
- Interoperability with other software: Importing and exporting data from Revit to other design software like structural analysis programs
Who Will Benefit the Most from Online Training
As previously mentioned, online training is best for those students who value flexibility in their learning schedule, need to access training from remote locations, have busy schedules with family or work commitments, prefer self-paced learning, and/or are comfortable with technology and independent study habits. These training sessions can be great for busy professionals that don’t want to sacrifice even more of their precious time for commuting to and from class and students with jam-packed schedules that need to learn on their own time. They can also be beneficial for stay-at-home parents who are looking for a way to expand their professional skills while their children are napping or at school. Essentially, anyone who values more control over their own schedule while still mastering new skills, can be a good fit for an online course.
Learn Revit with Hands-on Training at VDCI
CAD/BIM Certificate Program
This VDCI certificate program is a great option to help you develop these soft skills and learn two of the most popular tools in the AEC industry. You’ll start with foundational AutoCAD training before advancing into Revit’s Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities. This program includes specialization options in Revit MEP, Revit Structure, or AutoCAD Construction Documents, allowing you to tailor your expertise.
Revit Certification Training Bundle
VDCI’s training bundleis a compilation of five courses covering beginner to advanced skills, including these crucial soft skills. Courses are hands-on, real-world, and project-based. Using the Revit Architecture tools, you will learn how information is inter-related throughout the Revit (BIM) model. This course examines how Revit users design 3D models that simultaneously document the project and generate 2D architectural drawings containing floor plans, elevations, and 3D perspective views.
BIM Certificate Program
This course from VDCI will help you gain expertise in (BIM) by teaching you how to use Revit Architecture to create 3D models for commercial building projects. Professionals across architecture, engineering, and construction can enhance their career prospects by gaining expertise in BIM. This program is taught by experienced professionals who apply real-world workflows to help you develop practical skills. You’ll begin by learning the fundamentals of Revit and progress to advanced techniques, including modeling complex commercial projects, generating construction documents, and refining architectural details.
Revit Structure I
You could also attend individual structure-focused Revit courses. This one from VDCI can help you develop the highly desirable skills that you can add to your portfolio and resume. This course uses the Revit Structure tools to create an accurate structural model of a real-world, four-story commercial project. You will develop a structural project from the very beginning and see its completion through all aspects of BIM modeling. You will gain an understanding of real-world practices for the effective integration of an interactive project with other disciplines. Your work from this class can be added to your portfolio.
Revit Structure II
From there, you could explore this more challenging course and advance your skills in structural modeling. You will continue the structural project started in Revit STructure I using the Revit Structure tools. This course teaches you how to update the Revit Structure model elements, add annotations, set up detail sheets, create framing elevations and to create a completed set of structural construction documents for this four-story commercial project. Students complete project-based exercises that will teach them how to develop a structural model of a commercial project from the very beginning of the project to completion of the final 3D model. (You must complete Revit Structure I before attending this course.)
Revit Fundamentals Bundle
Consisting of two Revit classes, this VDCI program is designed to develop your understanding of Revit and its involvement in Building Information Modeling (BIM). You’ll be introduced to Revit and how information is interrelated throughout the Revit (BIM) model to design 3D models, generate 2D architectural drawings and create 3D perspective views. You’ll master Revit with the help of an expert instructor and hands-on, real-world, project-based training.
Revit MEP Professional Fast-Track Program
This VDCI program is geared towards students who want to pursue careers in the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) fields. You’ll begin with the fundamentals of Revit and BIM and progress into the MEP-specifics of using Revit MEP tools in the BIM process. These courses will also prepare you to take the Revit MEP Certified User Certification Exam. You will learn the skills and workflows which are practiced professionally by MEP engineers and support staff.
Revit Architectural Professional Fast-Track Program
This bundle from VDCI helps to prepare you for taking the Revit Architecture Certification Exam. Start at the beginning. You’ll learn how information is related throughout the Revit (BIM) model. This course examines how Revit users design 3D models that simultaneously document the project and generate 2D architectural drawings containing floor plans, elevations, and 3D perspective views.
Revit Structural Professional Fast-Track Program
Also from VDCI, this training is geared towards students who want to pursue careers in the Structural Engineering field. You’ll begin with the fundamentals of Revit and BIM, then progress into the structural specifics of using Revit Structure in the BIM process. You will also learn the professional workflows used in structural engineering offices. This series of courses will also prepare you for the Revit Certified User Certification Exam.